| Paddy McCourt homepage |
‘Throwback’ winger McCourt has the talent, but does he have the time?
Wednesday 15 December 2010 12:04
FourFourTwo.com (link)
Celtic’s Paddy McCourt has impressed in flashes this season, William Heaney ponders whether the former Rochdale and Shamrock Rovers wide-man will ever get the chance to become a key figure for the Hoops…
The SPL isn’t exactly awash with gifted players who are capable of taking on opposing defenders and producing something just a wee bit different.
That’s why watching Celtic and Northern Ireland winger Paddy McCourt in full flow is a sight to behold.
The ‘Derry Pele’ has become something of a cult-hero with Celtic fans since joining the club from Derry City in 2008, producing a series of stunning individual goals during his time in Scotland. While not blessed with lightning speed, he is nevertheless able to glide past players with his effortless, almost lazy, running style
A player with McCourt’s ability should be the fulcrum of a side – the guy you pin your hopes on to deliver on the big occasion. Instead, he settles most weeks for a late run from the bench and while he’s often effective, you can’t help but think that a player who is able to leave three, four or five opposition players in his wake, should be capable of so much more.
The number of minor injuries picked up by the player during his Celtic career has certainly not helped his cause. Already this season he has been sidelined by neck and shoulder problems and his issues with fitness and stamina appear to be ongoing concerns.
McCourt’s contribution when he isn’t in possession of the ball has also been questioned. He does his best work in the final third with the ball at his feet, but isn’t quite so keen on tracking back.Perhaps most telling is that most of McCourt’s magic moments have come against weaker opposition, or when the game is already won.
His goal at Falkirk last season, compared by one Scottish journalist to John Barnes’ for England against Brazil at the Maracana, was the third in a comfortable 4-0 win.
Similarly, the waltz round three Hearts defenders in September, which culminated in McCourt dinking the ball over the keeper into the net, was scored in the final minutes of the match with Celtic already two goals ahead.
Contrast that with McCourt’s record in Old Firm matches – just two appearances as a sub where he has made little or no impact. Whether that’s down to a lack of confidence, the occasion getting to him, or simply not yet having a proper chance to show what he can do on the big stage, remains to be seen.
McCourt’s international career mirrors his current situation at Celtic. With just four caps for Northern Ireland over an eight-year period, he was left out of the squad for the opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia. Manager Nigel Worthington explained his decision: “With all the craft that Paddy has, if he can get the graft side, the work ethic, what a great player he would be for us.”
Whether Worthington’s comments say more about the player’s abilities or are a reflection of the modern game is debatable. While he has since returned to the squad, watching McCourt try to play a more disciplined central midfield role in the recent friendly against Morocco was a strange experience.
For anybody thinking that’s he’s a young guy with time on his side, well, he’s not. McCourt turns 27 this week, and rather than being a naive kid, it’s more a case of him being in last chance saloon. The early promise shown by McCourt at Rochdale led to him being linked with Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers, but a move never materialised and he ended back in the League of Ireland. While trials with Norwich
City, Crewe and Motherwell failed to produce a contract, West Brom were ready to offer the player another shot at English football until Gordon Strachan stepped in at the last minute to take him to Celtic Park.
In order to become a first-team regular, it’s not just personal challenges that McCourt has to overcome. While Celtic have defensive problems, they are not short of options in the wide areas: fellow countryman Niall McGinn is younger, faster and more direct than McCourt, and seemingly preferred by Nigel Worthington at international level.
Shaun Maloney meanwhile, is producing his best form since returning to the club, and young James Forrest was arguably Celtic’s top performer in the opening weeks of the season before injury struck.
There’s not much he can do about it, but McCourt was probably born 30-40 years too late. Described by Neil Lennon as a ‘throwback’, he is a player who would have thrived in the 1960’s or 70’s, when ability was everything and less emphasis was placed on athleticism and conditioning – he even has the hairstyle.
Tragedy is too strong a word, but it would be a real shame if McCourt fails to progress from bit-part player to centre stage. In his defence, he conjured up the only goal at Inverness on the opening day of the season, and assists which led to last minute winners at Dundee United and St Mirren, but he has to consistently produce when it really counts.
With a manager and a fanbase who clearly believe in him, McCourt may yet prove he was worth the wait.
Bullets in post target Celtic footballer Paddy McCourt
12 January 2011 Last updated at 16:52
The envelope addressed to McCourt, a winger from Northern Ireland, was found by staff at a Royal Mail sorting office in the east end of Glasgow.
Similar packages were sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and player Niall McGinn.
All three are from Northern Ireland and believed to be Catholics.
The three packages are thought to have been posted in Northern Ireland with Lennon’s and McGinn’s being intercepted in County Antrim.
A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we are currently investigating a suspicious package discovered at a Royal Mail sorting office in Cubie Street in Glasgow on Tuesday 11 January.
A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a suspect package was found in one of our Glasgow offices and was handed straight to the police.”
The Royal Mail called police to a sorting office in Northern Ireland earlier this week after staff raised concerns about two other packages.
Officers have asked anyone with information to come forward.
Celtic have traditionally been associated with Catholic supporters and players and sectarian threats have been made in the past to people at the club.
One included a threat from a paramilitary group to former club captain and Northern Ireland international Lennon. That resulted in him withdrawing from Northern Ireland’s game against Cyprus in 2002.
‘Brought to justice’ Football agent Gerry Carlile, who represents McCourt and McGinn, said: “I have spoken to both Paddy and Niall, and whilst both are disappointed and shocked, they are determined this won’t derail their efforts on the pitch.
“I hope the Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating thoroughly and that those responsible are caught and brought to justice swiftly.”
Following news of the third package being found, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, Peter Kearney, said: “It’s very sad when people’s beliefs, and when intolerant beliefs, are taken to the stage they incite and threaten the use of violence.
“And obviously on a very serious level, when things like the sending of bullets and ammunition come into play.”
Celtic legend Paddy McCourt feared off-field mistakes would cost him his childhood dream
By Simon Collins
Email Published: 18:12
Monday 05 March 2018
https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/celtic-legend-paddy-mccourt-feared-off-field-mistakes-would-cost-him-his-childhood-dream-1-8403412
CELTIC LEGEND, Paddy McCourt feared silly mistakes he made during his early career had cost him the chance of fulfilling his childhood dream of scoring a goal at Parkhead.
The Shantallow man, known affectionately to Celtic fans as the ‘Derry Pele’, is set to begin his 17th season as a professional footballer at the age of 34 with Finn Harps this weekend.
And in an honest, in-depth question and answer session at University Ulster recently, McCourt opened up about the obstacles he’s had to overcome, how he bounced back from mistakes and the sacrifices he’s made in order to make it at the top of the game.
Tackling issues on lifestyle, sports science and his plans for when he hangs up his boots during an, at times, emotional interview at the Magee Campus in Derry as part of the N. Ireland Science Festival, McCourt recounts how he failed to make the grade at Rochdale as a teenager and how he rebuilt his career in the League of Ireland before starring for Celtic and Northern Ireland.
The gifted winger won two SPL titles (2011/12 and 2012/13), two Scottish Cups (2011 and 2013), scoring 10 goals in 88 appearances with Celtic during a five year career in Glasgow during which he became a cult hero with supporters.
McCourt signed for the Hoops from Derry City in 2008 for a £200,000 fee and forced his way into the first team during the 2009/10 season, netting his first goal – a typically outrageous individual effort – in the League Cup against Falkirk on September 2009 when he skipped past five defenders before chipping the goalkeeper.
However, when asked to recall his most memorable moment in his career he made no hesitation when replying it was his first goal at Parkhead in a 3-0 win over Hearts in September 11th, 2010 which realised a lifetime ambition.
“The one highlight of my career, and it’s not winning a trophy, but scoring my first goal at Celtic Park,” he said. “And the reason for that is I actually had dreams of scoring at Celtic Park. I felt I had let that go when I had that set-back at Rochdale,” added McCourt. “Self-doubt creeps in but I remember the night. It was Hearts at home and it was a very proud moment.
“It might never have happened if I hadn’t made the sacrifices I made and I have a lot of people to thank for that.”
That was all during McCourt’s second spell across Channel when so much had changed from the period in which he first made the move to England from junior club, Foyle Harps, signing for Third Division club, Rochdale as a 17 year-old in 2000.
“I don’t think anything I do will fill the void of playing football. It’s the best thing in the world for me. When I wake up in the morning the first thing I think about is football and when I go to bed at night.”
Paddy McCourt
While he admits he didn’t have any trouble playing at that level, it was the copious amounts of free time, a new-found freedom, playboy lifestyle and the temptation of socialising in the local bars which he struggled to balance with a professional football career. And the Derry man admits he was not ready for that experience.
“When I look back now, 18 years later, I know I was nowhere near ready for it and the events that transpired in the next couple of years proved that. It’s very hard to know the situation you’re going into when you’re not prepared for it.
“I was coming from Foyle Harps, playing junior football and then going into a professional environment. It wasn’t that big of a jump in terms of what you did differently because Rochdale was a small club and you went in and trained and were home for 1 p.m. living in digs and I didn’t drive at the time.
“You had so much spare time on your hands and as a young lad, you do daft stuff and make mistakes and I admit I made plenty. It was basic stuff like going out too much and not eating the right food. That’s why, when I came home, I learned what it takes to become a proper athlete because you need to live a clean lifestyle to make it as a footballer and I wish I knew back then what I know now.”
McCourt claims it was his misguided lifestyle choices, and the lack of information about the pitfalls involved, which led to his eventual release from the club and return to the League of Ireland with Shamrock Rovers where he spent the next six months.
Those bad habits picked up at Rochdale didn’t exactly go away during his time in Tallaght and it wasn’t until he linked up with Stephen Kenny at his hometown club, Derry City, in 2005 that he finally got his career back on track and took better care of his off-field activities.
This stage of his career football coincided with football evolving to place more emphasis on sports science and become more technological in its analysis. It was then the realisation hit home.
“It was a setback,” he continued. “Initially when I was at Rochdale I did quite well and broke into the first team quite early but when I came back I took stock. I made mistakes and wasn’t really living my life to be a professional footballer.
“I had six months with Shamrock Rovers where I didn’t make many changes to my lifestyle but I was doing quite well on the pitch. I came back to Derry where I had a good man guiding me in Stephen Kenny who was really into promoting youth players.
“There was a bit of sports science starting to come in at Derry in terms of what to do leading up to a game, and then your recovery sessions on a Saturday morning after a game. It was tiny, basic stuff but it started to kick in then and that helped me because I was getting information I didn’t have before. It was up to yourself to buy into it and I started to buy into it a bit more and started to see the benefit.”
Marty McCann, Paddy McCourt, Professor Alison, Ulster University and Donal Doherty, from Back In Action, pictured at the Talent Development Academy Elite Soccer Coaching event held at the Magee Between 2005 and 2008 McCourt won an FAI Cup, three League Cups and helped guide Derry to a runners-up spot in the league (2005) and a remarkable UEFA Cup run in 2006 before Celtic came calling.
With his mind focused and his confidence restored, McCourt says he was much better prepared for a second shot across the water.
“I was much better prepared but when you go to a club of that magnitude you need to be. I was very fortunate to get the second chance because not a lot of people do. I don’t know the exact figure but the percentage of people who come back and get back across again, is pretty low.”
Northern Ireland
Sammy McIlroy handed McCourt his first international cap for Northern Ireland in 2002 and he won 18 caps before his 14 year association came to an end in 2016 after he opted out of the Euro ‘16 squad heading to France due to his wife, Laura’s battle with illness.
In an interesting insight into how preparation for games changed while in the international set-up, McCourt recalls how he would be persuaded to hit the town on nights leading up to a game and how the N. Ireland national team ‘wasn’t a great place’ for an impressionable 18 year-old.
“When I first went in to Northern Ireland it probably wasn’t a great place for an 18 year-old who liked a night out because you’re in with 28-year-olds who loved a night out and were always encouraging you to come with them.”
Of course that mentality changed over time and, just like at Celtic, players could no longer get away with failing to look after their bodies.
“It was just a progression. But from there (2002) to where it is now is just amazing. I was in the international set-up right up until last year and it’s like night and day. There’s no going out, there’s no drinking before a game. It’s just complete and utter concentration on the game.”
After spells with Barnsley, Brighton, Notts County and Luton, McCourt returned home and joined Glenavon part-time in the Irish League before joining Finn Harps last year.
He acknowledges his playing career is nearing an end but he’s keen to make the transition from player to coach and is thriving in his role as an elite coach at the newly established ‘Talent and Development Academy’, co-founded by his good friend and ex-Derry City teammate, Martin McCann.
While he claims the buzz he gets from coaching will never match the feeling he gets when he crosses the white line as a player, he hopes to make a real difference in the lives and careers of Derry’s young football hopefuls.
“I don’t think anything I do will fill the void of playing football. It’s the best thing in the world for me. When I wake up in the morning the first thing I think about is football and when I go to bed at night. If I’m not playing it, I’m watching it and thinking about it.
“I’ll still be involved in football and I love what I’m doing. When I first came back it took me about a year to decide what I wanted to do. I was still playing part-time. Myself and Marty spoke at length about setting the Academy up, something which is needed in Derry. It’s six months since we first decided to set it up and I’m absolutely loving it. Being honest, you’re never going to recreate the buzz of playing. It’s like when I was a player I tried to become the best and hopefully we’ll see where that takes me as a coach now.”